Stress-Free Syringe for Babies

As a parent, I take some measure of pride in my young children's ability to bravely face a needle at the doctor's office. When it's time for vaccinations, my kids soldier through the disinfectant wipe, the needle stick and the cartoon bandage with barely a flinch, let alone a crying fit.

Of course, not everyone is so lucky. Plenty of kids have a meltdown at just the site of a syringe. Some designers at the Samsung Design Membership program created the Vacc-Stamp to make vaccinations less traumatic for babies and toddlers.

The square, plastic unit is a self-contained, single-dose device that combines the entire prep and vaccination procedure in one step. A soft patch contacts the skin first, while a disinfectant stamp is dispensed on the surface. A micro needle injects the vaccine when the nurse or doctor presses a button on the side of the device. Once the dose is administered, a symbol appears on the top of the case indicating the full dose has been delivered.

The device not only reduces or eliminates stress and pain for the child, but also ensures that the correct dose is administered. The Vacc-Stamp was a Gold award winner in this year's Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) 2013 competition.

Source: IDSA